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Holiday Safety Tips December 2010

Here are some helpful tips for keeping your cat healthy during the holiday season.

  1. RIBBONS AND TINSEL may seem like wonderful toys, but can be devastating, literally “sawing through” a cat’s intestines. Tinsel is best kept off the tree if you have cats in your household. Your cat will enjoy chasing ribbon, but make sure you are at the other end of the ribbon.
  2. ELECTRIC LIGHT CORDS may also be tempting to cats and other pets but can cause serious burns. Keeping cords hidden and out of reach will help. “Bitter Apple” is a spray with a bitter taste to discourage your cat from chewing on cords. Bitter Apple is available at most pet stores.
  3. HOLIDAY PLANTS vary in their toxicity. LILIES, AMARYLLIS BULBS and some MISTLETOE are the most dangerous; POINSETTIAS, HOLLY, CHRISTMAS TREE NEEDLES and CHRISTMAS CACTUS usually cause irritation and intestinal upset but are less toxic.
  4. CHRISTMAS TREE WATER – may contain fertilizers and stagnant tree water can breed bacteria, but ingestion of a small amount of water is usually tolerated. Covering the water with chicken wire allows you to pour water through but prevents your cat from drinking the water.
  5. FRAGILE ORNAMENTS, especially glass, may be broken and ingested, as can the ribbon or wire holding the ornaments on the tree.
  6. PINE SAP is not toxic but is sticky and hard to remove. Vegetable oil works better than shampoo.
  7. LIQUID POTPOURRI can cause burns to the skin or eyes, and can be toxic if ingested.
  8. DRINKS with milk or cream such as alcoholic eggnog – because of their small size, cats are very sensitive and even small amounts of alcohol can be fatal.
  9. At New Year’s, GLOW IN THE DARK JEWELRY AND GLO-STICKS are fascinating to cats. But, if a cat bites through, the substance, while non-toxic, is extremely bitter-tasting. Expect your cat to salivate profusely. Place the cat in a dark room, wipe off any glowing areas you see and try to dilute the taste by using milk or tuna.
  10. CHOCOLATE – is usually less an issue with cats than dogs, but can be serious, leading to seizures, if a large quantity is ingested.
  11. MEDICATIONS – if your elderly Aunt Mary is visiting, be vigilant about any medications that may spill. Cats lack some liver enzymes and metabolize many medications poorly; one Tylenol can be fatal to a cat.

Know the phone number and location of your nearest veterinary emergency clinic, just in case. It’s also a good idea to keep handy the ASPCA Animal Poison Control information handy:
1-888-4 -ANI-HELP, www.apcc.aspca.org. There is a fee for this service. 

So, when you “deck your halls”, look at the decorations from your cat’s perspective to try to forestall the above hazards. Watch your cat when you first set out your tree and greens, and if your cat is fascinated by something hazardous, you may need to re-decorate a bit.

Wishing everyone a safe, happy and hazard-free holiday season!